Bruce looks for loan stars

24 June 2011 02:00

Viewed : 21

Steve Bruce has promised his summer transfer blitz will not prevent the club's youngsters from getting their chance.

Bruce has already landed Bosman free signings Keiren Westwood and Sebastian Larsson, who will formally complete moves to the Stadium of Light on July 1, while a deal has been agreed for South Korea international striker Ji Dong-won. The Black Cats have also been linked to Manchester United trio Darron Gibson, Wes Brown and John O'Shea.

"I have got a few young lads bubbling underneath who have impressed me and who have got a chance," Bruce told the Sunderland Echo.

"A lot of them can expect to be going out on loan next season because I haven't wavered from that view - that you send your young lads out on loan and see how they stand up to it.

"It didn't do Jordan (Henderson) or Jack (Colback) any harm, and it's another part of young players' education in the modern game.

"Then, when they come back from their loans, you hope that they have come on another step.

"I hope that will prove to be the case with the current crop of lads, because I think there are some exciting young players and we acknowledged that by regularly including a few in our first-team squad towards the end of the [last] season.

"I don't think anyone doubts we have now got a busy summer ahead of us in the transfer market, but it won' be at the expense of players coming through.

"If the young lads prove they are good enough, they will get their chance - just like Jordan and Jack did."

Injuries to senior players last season meant young players such as Ryan Noble, Jordan Cook, Craig Lynch, Billy Knott and Louis Laing were given a taste of first-team involvement.